Chad Krystals Explains “Keep It Live” Off Mind Games

This week is a special one for Chad Krystals. The local hip-hop musician is releasing his new, third independent album, Mind Games, today, off his own independent label, Krystal Clear Inc. He’s giving Valley music fans a little taste of the album with a special showcase at Phoenix’s Hidden House…

Rolling Stone Chooses New Queen of Pop

A new queen of pop has been crowned by Rolling Stone, according to Idolator.Rolling Stone put 16 female pop stars head to head in the ultimate statistical showdown to see who would reign as queen. Competitors included Adele, Beyonce Knowles, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson,…

Aaron May, What Are You Listening To?

Aaron MayThe chef owns Over Easy (additional location here), The Lodge, Mabel’s on Main, Iruna and Vitamin T, as well as May’s Counter in Tucson. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? The Grateful Dead channel on Sirius…

St. Ranger: “Ohnowoe”

Although they have not produced at a very prolific pace thus far, the members of Phoenix indie pop group St. Ranger are on the verge of unleashing some serious noise.

40 Watt Sun Debuts New Song, “This Alone,” on Brooklyn Vegan

UK doom metal band 40 Watt Sun’s new album, The Inside Room, won’t be released stateside on Metal Blade Records until July 19, but it’s already hotly anticipated by fans of both 40 Watt Sun and their singer Patrick Walker, former front man of Warning.The Inside Room boasts five tracks,…

You Me and Apollo: “Coming Home In A Coffin”

Brent Cowles, otherwise known as indie rocker, You Me and Apollo, spent 2010 as a Phoenix resident, cultivating his place in the music community before moving back to Fort Collins, Colorado. Earlier this month, he released Cards with Cheats, a 13 song album available online and has a release party…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our June 30 Issue

This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts.• What do members of local band The Comseticators have to say about their song, “Apple”? •…

Courtney Love Allegedly Steals Photographer David LaChapelle’s Car

Right after a rough breakup with her British boyfriend Henry Allsopp, Courtney Love has allegedly stolen photographer David LaChapelle’s car, according to Spinner.Love said she was going to pick up director Brett Ratner so she could bring him to LaChapelle’s exhibition at the Lever House, but she never returned.Ratner has…

The NKOTBSB Concert Will Incite Nostalgia

There’s comfort in knowing exactly what you’re going to get from a concert. People talk about the first Lollapalooza, when Nine Inch Nails stormed off the stage because the heat fried their electronics, or when the dudes from Wavves were upset with each other for some reason and quit mid-show,…

St. Ranger Pushes Their Progressive Indie Rock Online

Phoenix-based indie rockers St. Ranger don’t have an album out. In fact, the band has released only two songs at this point, the Grizzly Bear-esque “Ohnowoe” and the fidgety, intricate, nearly prog “Shark Week.” So why did national music blog My Old Kentucky Blog feature the band in May, and…

Paste Magazine Returns with New Digital Format and mPlayer

After suspending print issues last August, Paste magazine returned yesterday with a new and improved digital format. Readers will now be treated to weekly issues of the music and culture magazine, via a new mPlayer.The mPlayer will include the popular Paste New Music Sampler, as seven weekly music downloads paired…

U2 to Sell 360 Tour Stages to Create New Venues

, according to Billboard.The band is selling three of their four-legged structures that stand over the stage. They each take up 29,000 square feet.Plans are currently being discussed “to send them into different places around the world and have them installed as permanent venues,” U2 tour director Craig Evans said…

Carly’s Bistro Nerd Nite III: Serene Dominic on The Osmonds

“It’s like the Discovery Channel, with beer.” Nerd Nite at Carly’s Bistro is an informal gathering that goes down every so often, featuring noted (or not so noted) authors, experts, or fans sounding off on a nerdy topic of their choosing. Thursday, June 30, Arizona Republic and New Times contributor…

Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music Label Signs Deal With Def Jam

” with Island Def Jam, according to MTV News.G.O.O.D. Music is now officially a subsidiary of Def Jam. Many future G.O.O.D. Music releases will see release under Def Jam’s name, including Big Sean’s Finally Famous, which is being released today.Some of the G.O.O.D. Music artists will release their music via Def Jam from…

Cut Throat Logic Spit Live (Video)

​Mic Controllers JustUs and Deonte of Cut Throat Logic have had a considerable amount of success over the years. Aside from dropping tracks left and right and working with a murderers’ row of hip-hop artists, the group has built up a rabid following in Arizona. While success has been sweet,…

Tumblr of the Week: Swag or No Swag?

OFWGKTA’s frontman Tyler the Creator has been spreading the trend of placing the word “swag” at the end of his sentences on Twitter (@fucktyler).Hence, his not all that cool swag trend has led us to this week’s pick for Tumblr of the Week: Swag or No Swag.More on what’s awesome…

Details Revealed About ‘Muppets: The Green Album’

Muppets: The Green Album is a collection of classic Muppet hits being covered by some pretty talented rocker stars. The soundtrack, titled The Green Album, gets a slightly ironic twist, considering that Weezer is featured in the mix.The 12-track album includes Muppets covers from OK Go, Alkaline Trio, Amy Lee, Sondre…

Friend of British Prime Minister Found Dead at Glastonbury Festival

Yesterday, a close friend of British prime minister David Cameron died in a port-o-potty in the VIP area of the Glastonbury Festival.Christopher Shale, chairman of the Conservative Association in West Oxfordshire, was staying in an exclusive VIP area of the festival, which is a huge annual music event in Britain…